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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



SONGS ON THE WATERS 



STEAMER LETTER FOR 
MRS. MORTON MITCHELL 

FROM HER FRIEND 

ERNEST WARBURTON SHURTLEFF 




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PRIVATELY PRINTED 
SAN FRANCISCO, 1913 






Copyright 191? 

BY 

A. M. Robertson 



©Q.A348352 
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6 Place Deufert-Rochereau, 

Paris, September 1912, 

Dear Mrs, Mitchell, — 

/ enclose the steamer letter — 
in verse, I only hope that it is not too serious, I 
remembered what you said about liking best the 
''sad kind of poetry''. After all, it is not sad, 
hut just '^ thoughtful''. 

When you come to think of it, the heartiest laughter 
brings tears to the eyes, Tears are so near our smiles 
joy must often look through them. 

If the letter is too serious — / will forgive you if 
you toss it to one side, I have not dated the pages — 
thought it perhaps better to just leave them open for 
you to choose the page you wanted for the day, 

I ought to say that several of the sonnets are from 
a little book called "" Easter Gleams ", which I 
published in Boston in 1885 — all the rest of the 
verses, with the exception of the ** Song of Solace" 
were written recently — most of them within the last 
few days, and especially for you. They are all for 
you, anyway, I wish that they were better and 
that they might be of some real comfort. 

Your sincere friend, 

ERNEST W, SHURTLEFF. 



REMEMBER THIS. 



Remember this, when you set sail 
And gaze back landward o'er the rail — 

There is a ship you leave behind 

As true as any you may find 
Where foreign shores their balms exhale. 

This good ship which I have in mind 
Is christened ' ' Friendship ' ' , and no wind 
Can drive it from the course designed — 
Remember this. 

The crew of Friendship have opined, 
With faith and hope and love, combined, 
To follow you through calm or gale. 
When you receive this through the mail — 
Remember this. 



STEAMER LETT ER FOR 
MRS. MORTON MITCHELL 

FROM HER FRIEND 

ERNEST WARBURTON SHURTLEFF 



/* The Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou 
goest^ Joshua I., 9. 

** Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of 
His hand.'' Isaiah XL., 12. 

* * Behold the Lord thy God hath set the land before 
thee." Deuteronomy I., 21. 

'^ Even the winds and the sea obey Him.' ' 

Matthew VIII., 27. 



A LETTER IN SONNETS 



FIRST SONNET. 



Dear friend, do you remember when you said 
That Hfe, for you, meant only grief and care, 
And weariness that seemed too hard to bear — ? 

How, when I spoke of faith, you shook your 
head 

And said faith left you still uncomforted. 

And doubt had come to close the lips of 

prayer ? 
Life seemed to you a desert, everywhere. 

Whose every path to other deserts led. 

How often have I thought of those sad words — ! 

They come to me this morning, as I write; 
Could I send wishes forth, as happy birds, 

A flock should follow you with joyous flight. 
And sing, above your head, the gladdest things 
That hope and peace could trust to fleeting wings. 



(11) 



SECOND SONNET. 



But, I remember also, friend of mine. 

You said you loved the pensive songs the best ; 

I understand; when sorrow is our guest 
True comfort cannot come with glee and wine. 
But must, within its ministry, inshrine 

Thoughts kindred to the soul that is oppressed ; 

For it is sympathy that giveth rest, 
And on the cloud itself faith's arch must shine. 

Today I found a little book I wrote 

Long years ago, and as the leaves I read 

I thought of you — thought there might be a note 
That answered something of the things you 
said. 

And so I copy here a verse or two. 

Rewritten, now, with kindly thoughts of you; — 



(12) 



THIRD SONNET. 



Teach me, O Lord, to bear my cross and sing. 
My spirit's eyes are blind with mortal fate. 
Yet through the closed lids shines a light so 
great. 

It makes my soul, for joy, within me spring, 

I could not bear it all now, O my King — 
Teach me to trust Thy wisdom and to wait. 
For when I enter through Thy heavenly gate 

Then I shall see life's mysteries blossoming. 

I know not now why men must sigh and weep. 
Why hearts must bleed, but oh, since I am 
blind. 

Why do I strive to read vast meanings deep. 
And climb to paths too lofty for my mind ? 

Teach me to hold Thy hand till I can see ; 

Thou guidest stars ; my soul is safe with Thee. 



(13) 



FOURTH SONNET. 



I heard a voice speak softly in my soul, 
As softly as a child's low voice, in prayer, 
At sunset breathes upon the evening air — 

I listened, and deep peace upon me stole, — 

**I am the angel that hath come to roll 

From thy dumb heart its load too great to bear, 
That Christ may rise within thee, and make 
fair 

Thy life with joy, and all thy mind console." 

Then, to the angel in my soul, I said, — 

^'Who art thou, that my tongue may bless 
thy peace ? 
Art thou not Hope that lifteth up my head. 

And biddest in my heart the turmoil cease ? 
Or art thou Mercy's form, or gentle wraith ? " 
*'Nay, I am more," the voice said, *'I am 
Faith." 



(14) 



FIFTH SONNET. 



I faltered in the storm and gloom, and prayed 

That I might touch the hand of Christ, and 
know 

His might to lead me from my doubt and woe; 
But when my fingers, trembling and afraid. 
Upon His gentle, loving palm were laid, 

I felt the prints that let His life-blood flow 

On Calvary, sad centuries ago. 
When heaven grew black and Pilate stood dis- 
mayed. 

But, when I gazed upon His face, I cried, — 
''Oh, beautiful!" — and bowed my head in 
shame. 
Now, never more my soul, dissatisfied, 

Shall doubt because my pilgrim feet are lame, 
But I shall hear His footsteps at my side. 

And on my heaviest cross shall shine His 
name. 



(15) 



SIXTH SONNET. 



I dreamed a chorus from the choirs divine 
Drew singing 'round the pillow where I slept: 
My sleep grew bright, — as though a star had 
crept 

From night's untroubled bosom into mine. 

In consolation through my soul to shine. 
All day my heart its loneliness had wept, 
Not dreaming hosts of holy angels kept 

Such faithful vigils 'round my life's poor shrine. 

So, turning to the heavenly throng, I said, 
"'Doth God send such kind eyes to watch 
o'er me ? — 
And when I, faltering, bow my weary head. 
Do bright ones watch me whom I cannot 
see?" 
The answering chorus broke, through chords 
of praise, 
**He gives His angels charge o'er all thy 
ways." 



(16) 



SEVENTH SONNET. 



When thou art sad and weary of the way. 
Then, ope thy soul to heaven, and, on hushed 

wing, 
Peace, hke a dove, shall enter there, and bring 

The consolation of immortal day. 

And countless joys, like birds with voices gay. 
Shall flutter through thy heart, and coo and 

Till all thy life with heavenliness shall ring. 
And on thy face shall shine Hope's holy ray. 

When thou art lonely, look up to thy Lord, 
And He will send a glad thought to thy mind. 

Which, like an angel with a flaming sword, 
Shall guard thy life ; and trouble there shall 
find 

No gateway, but shall flee away and leave 

Thy life its Saviour's footsteps to receive. 



(17) 



EIGHTH SONNET. 



I think the sunshine is Christ's garment-hem ; 
For when I reach my weary hand to clutch 
Those shining folds of loveliness, so much 

Of heavenly virtue issues forth from them 

I bow half fearful, lest my Lord condemn 
That I should gather at that eager touch 
So much of life, who am not worthy such 

But like a weed, shame — drooping, on its stem. 

Yet, in His gentleness. He will not chide, 

Nor draw away that robe of shining gold 
From my lame hands, with look of angered 
pride. 
He turns to me, as unto her of old ; 
Sweet echoes of past ages thrill my soul — 
Hush! Jesus speaks — '"Thy faith hath made 
thee whole r^ 



(18) 



SONG OF SOLACE, 



Here let me lift my simple song 
To breathe that God is good. 

And leaveth not that people long 
Who trust His Fatherhood. 

Remember, eyes made blind with tears 

Read not His ways aright; 
Be patient — morning always nears 

Through vistas of the night. 

Bow not above the loved one's rest 
With such a dumb despair, 

As if ye thought the soul ye blest 
In silence lingered there. 

Ye cannot clasp with arms of dust 

The risen form above, 
But ye can leave all in His trust 
. Whose other name is Love. 

In yon blue zenith, all unseen. 

The star ye saw last night 
Is shining still, in peace serene. 

Though veiled by day's great light; 



(19) 



SONG OF SOLACE CONTINUED. 



And SO the gentle life ye mourn, 
Though vanished like the star, 

Lives on where brighter day is born, 
And clearer heavens are. 

So sweet is death to him who dies. 

He cannot bear return 
To break the holy, glad surprise 

That ye may wait and learn. 

Then lift your trust to yon fair sky ! 

Have faith in God's great will; 
And know that though all else should die. 

His love would fold thee still. 



(20) 



THE HEART IS SAFE THAT TRUSTS 
IN HIM. 



The heart is safe that trusts in Him 
When winds and waves are high, 

The ocean's roar becomes a hymn 
That tells that He is nigh ; 

The dreaded cloud becomes His form 

Who draweth nearer than the storm, 
With word, ''Fear not— 'tis —T' 

The heart is safe that trusts in Him 
When daylight is withdrawn ; 

The stars become His eyes, undim, 
That guide faith safely on. 

The hush of night becomes His word. 

With solace for the grieving heard, — 
''Blessed are they that mourn." 

The heart is safe that trusts in Him, 
Though out of sight of land. 

The widest seas cannot o'erbrim 
The hollow of His hand. 

The shoreless deep hath yet His will, 

And wildest waves and winds grow still. 
Obeying His command. 



( 21) 



THE HEART IS SAFE THAT TRUSTS IN HIM CONTINUED. 



The heart is safe that trusts in Him,; 

What e'er the voyage may be, 
Come calm — come storm with fiercest vim. 

The end is victory. 
For faith shall hear His voice at last, 
Say, when the toiling tides are passed — 

*' There shall be no more sea." 



(22) 



GOD GAVE THE PEARL. 



<j€5d gave the pearl — how like a tear ! — 
To show us from how dark a sphere 
A thing of beauty may arise 
Some heavenly grace to symbolize, 
Made, by transition, doubly dear. 

Where dawn and star-light may not peer. 
In river-bed, or ocean drear. 
Where neither hope nor joy seems near, 
God gave the pearl. 

It saith to patience, ''persevere'' 
It saith to sorrow, ' ' love is here, ' ' 
When gates were made for Paradise, 
For each gate, opened in those skies, 
God gave the pearl. 



/ 



(23) 



THE CLOUD BAPTISM. 



Baptized by cloud sand darkness 

Humanity has come; 
The noblest souls, like flowers, 

Through shadow rise to bloom. 

The oak is reared by tempests. 
The ship is proved by gales; 

And only he is captain 

Who 'gainst the storm prevails. 

Fear not the cloud baptism — 
All winds obey one sky; 

The lightning flash is signal 
Of beacon-lights more high. 



(24) 



THE STORM IS DONE, 



The storm is done, and God doth reign, 

His sceptre bringeth peace again ; 
Beneath His everlasting arm 
The sobbing sea sinks back to calm — 

Good-night, tired heart, good-night, tired brain. 

Like rainbows on the mist of rain. 
Like sunsets on the restless main. 
He giveth joy for all the pain — 

The storm is done. 

Good-night to doubts and questions vain. 
Good-night to fear and griefs disdain; 
Sleep Cometh now with gentle charm 
And healeth all, like God's own balm — 
The storm is done. 



(25) 



THE DAY OF CALM. 



A mighty calm is on the deep — 

A mighty, voiceless calm; 
The weary ocean seems asleep, 

Lulled by its own great psalm. 

There's not a ripple on the sea. 
Nor bird's wing in the air — 

The heavens' hushed infinity 
Seems holy as a prayer. 

And who would think a tempest-blast 
E'er marred that sea and sky. 

Or maddened waves in fury cast 
Their shattered crests on high ? 

He who can bid the storms decrease 

To stillness so profound. 
Till ocean lies asleep, in peace, 

Breathless and without sound. 

Can surely still our loudest strife, 
And soothe our roughest seas. 

And fill our heights and depths of life 
With Love's hushed ministries. 



OF THIS PRIVATE EDITION FIFTY COPIES HAVE 
BEEN PRINTED ON NORMANDY VELLUM FOR 
A. M. ROBERTSON BY THE PHILOPOLIS PRESS 
THE TYPE AFTERWARDS BEING DISTRIBUTED 



lAR 6 1313 



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